Sick chicken - Impacted crop?

[Wyorp Rock]

I checked her crop this morning and while it isn’t huge, I can feel a smallish golf ball sized lump, which is squishy. She doesn’t seem to be in distress when I poke it. Yesterday during the day it felt much larger and harder. I compared this morning to another chicken’s crop, which was completely flat. So I think maybe a partial impaction, possibly? No noticeable odor coming from her beak. I’m reading all kinds of things online, from completely isolating her and cutting off food and water for 12 hours, to olive oil and yogurt and forced regurgitation.

Also, regarding the heat stroke theory, she is an Ameraucauna and does not seem to tolerate the heat well and is drinking a LOT.I was blaming it on heat until I saw the liquid coming from her beak yesterday. That got me worried.

Here’s a photo of her this morning, panting, though it’s not hot yet.

Is she pooping?

I would start by reading the article below. Give her 1 teaspoon coconut oil twice a day and massage/manipulate the material that's in the crop. See how the crop is in the morning. If it's gone down or not much different, then I would repeat the coconut oil. If the lump is still there again the next day, then I would give the stool softener. IF the crop changes from the lump to being boggy, re-read the article and let us know.

Generally I leave mine with the flock unless I can't resolve the crop issue over the course of several days. Separation is stressful on birds.
During this time make sure that grit is available free choice to the flock. I would cut out any treats that are harder to process (corn/scratch/seeds) and opt to give the whole flock (including her) a treat of scrambled eggs or similar.

Is she laying eggs at all?
The flock has shade?
If possible, provide cool water for them to drink a couple of times a day.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

 

[Megpz]

Yes, she is pooping but it’s all diarrhea- usually just looks like straight up water or occasionally mixed with undigested pellets. She is laying almost every day, in spite of whatever is going on. They’re in the shade and I even had a fan blowing on them yesterday when it got really hot.

Not sure if this means anything, but she seems to eat a lot more grit than the others.
Thanks for the link- I’ll check it out.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Yes, she is pooping but it’s all diarrhea- usually just looks like straight up water or occasionally mixed with undigested pellets. She is laying almost every day, in spite of whatever is going on. They’re in the shade and I even had a fan blowing on them yesterday when it got really hot.

Not sure if this means anything, but she seems to eat a lot more grit than the others.
Thanks for the link- I’ll check it out.

I would give her the coconut oil, massage the crop. See if she will eat a little feed made into a mash (wet feed/soaked pellets). For the pellet to look undigested, that doesn't sound good - she may have a partially blocked gizzard too - hard to know. Start with the basics and go from there.

 

[Megpz]

Is she pooping?

I would start by reading the article below. Give her 1 teaspoon coconut oil twice a day and massage/manipulate the material that's in the crop. See how the crop is in the morning. If it's gone down or not much different, then I would repeat the coconut oil. If the lump is still there again the next day, then I would give the stool softener. IF the crop changes from the lump to being boggy, re-read the article and let us know.

Generally I leave mine with the flock unless I can't resolve the crop issue over the course of several days. Separation is stressful on birds.
During this time make sure that grit is available free choice to the flock. I would cut out any treats that are harder to process (corn/scratch/seeds) and opt to give the whole flock (including her) a treat of scrambled eggs or similar.

Is she laying eggs at all?
The flock has shade?
If possible, provide cool water for them to drink a couple of times a day.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

Do you think it’s okay for her to eat pellets and regular layer feed? I won’t give any treats. She does still want to eat.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Do you think it’s okay for her to eat pellets and regular layer feed? I won’t give any treats. She does still want to eat.

I think we were probably typing at the same time LOL
Yes, I would let her eat - I think I would offer her wet feed for a couple of days.

I would give her the coconut oil, massage the crop. See if she will eat a little feed made into a mash (wet feed/soaked pellets). For the pellet to look undigested, that doesn't sound good - she may have a partially blocked gizzard too - hard to know. Start with the basics and go from there.

 

[Megpz]

I would give her the coconut oil, massage the crop. See if she will eat a little feed made into a mash (wet feed/soaked pellets). For the pellet to look undigested, that doesn't sound good - she may have a partially blocked gizzard too - hard to know. Start with the basics and go from there.

quick question- after coconut oil and crop massage, I should not be inverting her/holding her upside down, right? I’ve read some things about doing that but it sounds potentially dangerous. I’m just massaging and hoping whatever is in there comes up, correct?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

quick question- after coconut oil and crop massage, I should not be inverting her/holding her upside down, right? I’ve read some things about doing that but it sounds potentially dangerous. I’m just massaging and hoping whatever is in there comes up, correct?

No, don't try to vomit her/hold her upside down.
You are correct, they can choke, aspirate fluids or even die.

You want to massage the crop to see if you can help break up what's in there. I usually try to take care not to push the crop contents up, especially if they have been drinking a lot since that action can cause liquid/water/food to come up as well. Chickens to not have a gag reflex - basically their esophagus is just a tube that leads to the crop.

 

[Megpz]

No, don't try to vomit her/hold her upside down.
You are correct, they can choke, aspirate fluids or even die.

You want to massage the crop to see if you can help break up what's in there. I usually try to take care not to push the crop contents up, especially if they have been drinking a lot since that action can cause liquid/water/food to come up as well. Chickens to not have a gag reflex - basically their esophagus is just a tube that leads to the crop.

thats what I thought- thank you.I just did the coconut oil and massage. Her crop actually feels really pebbly - like it’s FULL of grit. Squishy and pebbly. She was a champ with the massage, and then she ate some mash, so we’ll see

 

[Wyorp Rock]

thats what I thought- thank you.I just did the coconut oil and massage. Her crop actually feels really pebbly - like it’s FULL of grit. Squishy and pebbly. She was a champ with the massage, and then she ate some mash, so we’ll see

Keep us posted.

 

[Megpz]

Update: her crop still feels very squishy and pebbly - like there’s a handful of grit in there with fluid. She’s eating the mash and drinking plenty and her energy level seems normal. Saw some more fluid come from her beak a couple of times today. She did poop and I managed to see it and get a photo (attached). It was clear liquid with the brown soft turds in the pic. I’m continuing to massage her crop periodically.
I’ll check crop before bed and will do coconut oil again in the morning, unless you have other thoughts. Thanks so much!